Highfield appoints and announces 3G trial

BBC future media and technology director Ashley Highfield has announced two senior appointments to his team, and unveiled a 12-month mobile television trial with 3G network operators Orange, Vodafone and 3.

Joining Highfield's division next month is Colin Whitbread, who has been appointed controller of service delivery, managing developer teams and leading the BBC and Siemens Technology partnership. A former Telewest group operations director, Whitbread joins from ONO. Nic Newman has been appointed controller of journalism, in addition to managing the BBC News team as head of product development and technology.

Highfield said: "I am delighted to welcome Colin to the team and am pleased to already have Nic on board. Both are talented individuals, who will each make a significant contribution to the department's future success."

Meanwhile Highfield said the BBC would stream BBC One, BBC News 24 and BBC Three, plus eight radio stations, via 3G to test its effectiveness as a distribution platform.